James Braid (1843) described physiological brain changes for patients that fixed attention on luminous moving objects. During the induced state subjects showed increased therapeutic results for a variety of traumas and medical conditions.

Hippolyte Bernheim (1884) is credited with just using his extended index finger and thumb that he moved horizontally for patients to follow with their eyes to induce this "therapeutic condition."

Though others have a variety of theories and euphemisms for the above described mental state, it is usually called "hypnosis."